The Authority of Jesus Is Questioned
1 One day Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courtyard. He was preaching the good news to them. The chief priests and the teachers of the law came up to him. The elders came with them.
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"Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they all said. "Who gave you this authority?"
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Jesus replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me,
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was John's baptism from heaven? Or did it come from men?"
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They talked to each other about it. They said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe him?'
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But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will throw stones at us and kill us. They believe that John was a prophet."
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So they answered Jesus, "We don't know where John's baptism came from."
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Jesus said, "Then I won't tell you by what authority I am doing these things either."